There are a few common pain points for brokerages throughout the industry: they’re having trouble keeping their tech stack updated, agents are experiencing tool fatigue, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and retain agents. Brokers are being challenged to think ahead, putting systems in place that will ensure their relevancy and competitiveness in the future. Change is hard in any situation, but it’s particularly challenging when the future is uncertain.

New technology is being developed rapidly, making the vetting and onboarding of new tools daunting. Yet, maintaining a winning tech stack is how you’re going to recruit and keep the best performing team of agents.

Integration is vital to a brokerage’s ability to future-proof its business. If you’re able to plug and play tools and services as needed, without completely starting over or losing data, you gain the ability to easily change along with the market. When brokerages have an open platform, they’re able to do this, because their data lives in the cloud and tools can be swapped out on an as-needed basis.

What is an open platform? It’s the system that connects all of your brokerage technology solutions. All of your tech tools and services live in the MoxiCloud, where they integrate and share data. Flexibility will be vital to your success moving forward. The market is transforming so quickly, we have to be adaptive to changes in client expectations and available technology.

When you have an open platform in place, this data integration makes it easy to plug and play different tools as needed, offering flexibility as your business grows. It’s not only about the ability to plug and play, but the speed as well. With a sophisticated open platform, new tools and services can be up and running in no time. For example, we have an entire partner program filled with 40+ technology solutions that are integrated with the MoxiCloud. Brokerages can pick and choose which ones they want and it’s as easy as flipping a switch. It removes the burden of managing manual integrations and messy databases. Instead, everything is already there and available and it’s up to the brokerage to identify which tools work best for their business. Additionally, agents are looking to work for brokerages that offer holistic, simple solutions where they can find everything they need quickly and easily.

In February, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World announced our partnership – if you haven’t heard, they launched the LeadingRE Cloud, powered by MoxiWorks. The LeadingRE Cloud offers LeadingRE brokerages the opportunity to benefit from cloud technology no matter their in-house technology solutions.

Our partnership with LeadingRE was born out of innovation. Both organizations strive to progress the real estate industry forward, enabling brokerages to remain competitive in a quickly advancing industry. Offering the LeadingRE Cloud as a member benefit, LeadingRE has truly shown its commitment to technology and we’re ecstatic to be a part of it.

Interested in learning more about the MoxiCloud open platform? Learn more here, or contact our team for a consultation.

The real estate industry is evolving – don’t get left in the dust

By York Baur, CEO of Moxi Works

Platforms are new to our industry and unfortunately, they’re wildly misunderstood. It doesn’t help brokerages realize the intricacies of them when the term “platform” is being thrown around so heavily. Right now it’s the buzz word dujoure and many of these “platforms” don’t offer or do what they should. There are five core components that a platform should have and offer, which I’ll explain below.

The reality is, you don’t need a transaction platform or a marketing platform, you need a brokerage platform where all of your tools and services such as transaction management and marketing plug in and exchange data.

The importance of picking a platform that is driven by the right company for your brokerage cannot be ignored because you’re going to have to live with this thing for a long time. If you don’t pick the right one, it’s likely that you’re going to have problems in the future and changing platforms is no walk in the park. It’s like switching from Android to iPhone or vice versa – not a trivial change.

The five core components that the platform needs to have and offer are:

A proper platform has a variety of benefits. The first is that it significantly increases the choices of tools and services that a brokerage has and significantly decreases the amount of effort that the brokerage has to put into configuring, supporting, and managing those tools.

The second benefit is the ability of the real estate software industry to innovate at a much quicker pace given that brokerages don’t have to reinvent the wheel since the platform already provides many of the basic services that applications need.

Types of Platforms

Up until now I’ve explained what a platform is, but not that there are different kinds. There are closed platforms and open platforms, and one has many more benefits than the other. The philosophy of an open platform is that it offers the best tools and services throughout its ecosystem and isn’t limited to the tools and services built in house. Here are some definitions:

Open Platform: Has an open API that allows brokerages to plug and play tools and services from multiple vendors, including multiple vendors per category (such as marketing, transaction management, etc.), as they see fit.

Closed Platform: Brokerages are required to take the tools and services from one vendor and a very short list of partners, limiting choice and flexibility.

Think of an open platform as a power strip that lets you plug and play the tools and services you want, and unplug the ones you choose to exchange for new, better ones. Basically, an open platform allows a brokerage to select all of the best tools out there, have them work together, and can change tools at will – hassle free.

Integration

If you remember, the great innovation of Windows was when you were able to switch from an HP to and Epson printer and everything magically worked after installing the new printer driver. You didn’t have to do anything to Word, you just hit the print button. It’s that flexibility and integration that you get when having a platform.

Like Microsoft, we don’t pretend to be amazing at everything. We let our brokerages choose the best tools and services out there for their brokerage and integrate them into our platform; our own flavor of Windows. We want the power to stay in the brokerages hands, allowing them to curate the tools and services they think are best for their own agents. Every brokerage is unique and because of it, each needs a unique solution.

What’s an Ecosystem?

There are many ways to describe an ecosystem, but for this application within our industry, this is how I choose to explain it:

“An ecosystem is a collection of complimentary applications all working together, sharing data, that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.”

Any computer you’ve ever used in the modern age has its own ecosystem. Whether it’s that Epson printer you’re using or the many applications you go through in a day like Skype, QuickBooks, or Adobe, everything works together as soon as you install it. If you don’t like an application, you delete it and get another one. It’s as simple as that; that’s plug and play.

Here’s what a platform’s ecosystem should look like:

Why a Brokerage Should Care

If you think that you can ignore or take your sweet time figuring out what a platform is and what it means to your business – think again.

Look what Keller Williams is doing with the Keller Cloud, for example. Should you care about it? Absolutely – we’re excited that they’re enabling data exchange between their tools to make agents lives easier. What this means to you is that you’re going to have to provide a compelling answer when one of your agents is considering moving to Keller Williams, or you’re trying to recruit talent from them. It is absolutely pertinent that you have an answer for what your brokerage platform is when retaining and recruiting agents.

While we’re fans of the integration the the Keller Cloud is creating, it’s still not a truly open platform. Why? Because Keller Williams corporate is still deciding which tools and services will be allowed to plug-in. An easy way to spot the difference, is if it doesn’t have the five characteristics I mentioned above, it’s not an open platform.

The bottom line is, having an open platform and ecosystem of applications that run on it is the key to agent productivity and retention. Traditional brokerages with old school technology are losing agents to brokerages that have not only embraced tech, but have also invested in it. Investing in a platform will allow your brokerage to look to the future without anxiety holding you back, as long as you pick the right one.

Find out more about brokerage platforms and how they work by visiting this page.

The difference between closed and open platforms exposed

Takeaways:

An open platform differentiates a broker’s tool set, aiding recruiting and retention

The difference between a closed and open platform is monumental

A “Platform” is whatever you want it to be

Platforms have existed in technology for ages. Most industries have already adopted them, but it’s a relatively new idea for a residential brokerage. I’ve noticed that the word “platform” is being thrown around heavily right now – it’s the 2017 buzz word and because of that, it’s starting to lose its meaning.

Some of these vendors that are calling themselves “platforms,” however, don’t actually do what they should and because of that, you’ll need to know what to look for. There are five basic services that a proper platform should have and offer:

Property data that can be shared across all tools eliminating redundant entry

Brokerage and agent data that’s up to date

Consumer data so technology can help agents manage their SOI

Integration with both Microsoft and Google cloud environment to easily and securely share data across tech companies

An API (it allows other tech companies to integrate and share common data)

Let’s also put some rumors to rest. Just because you use a platform doesn’t mean you need to embrace the entire platform. It would be insane for a single brokerage to use every single one of our 30 integrated partners. A platform is whatever you want it to be for your brokerage.

Also, Security isn’t an inherent problem in open platforms just because a system is open, doesn’t mean it’s insecure. YouTube for instance, is an open platform site. No one is afraid to use it.

Closed vs. Open Platforms

I have to shed light on how important the distinction between a closed vs. open platform is. Many vendors that call themselves “platforms” are just products that sit on a database with no API – meaning they have no way to communicate effectively with one another. Here are some examples:

Open platform: Microsoft Windows. Windows is an operating system that allows you to download whatever you want, whether that’s QuickBooks for your taxes or Adobe Photoshop, and delete the apps you no longer want or use. If apple is more your speed, think iPhone and the AppStore.

Closed platform: Video game consoles. If you buy a game for Xbox and you get a Sony PlayStation, you have to buy your games all over again. The choice is not up to you if you ever decide to switch.

As a broker, this means with a closed platform you have to go with whatever tools the vendor chose to work with OR the vendor built it all themselves and can’t afford to evolve it over time at the same speed as competitors. Either way, it can be a disastrous future for a brokerage.

The reality is, no one can be great at everything. An open platform allows a brokerage to get all of the best tools out there, have them work together, and can change tools at will – hassle free.

Open Platform Benefits

If you’re a broker and you’ve already invested in some tech solutions over the past three or four years like a digital transaction tool, gifting, or lead partners, you don’t have to change them to get on an open platform; you integrate them and preserve your investment in agent training. That’s why an open platform is so dominant: the power and tools stay in the brokerages hands. They help companies retain the tools they love and find replacements for the ones they aren’t jiving with.

If you choose a platform provider for those benefits today, that provider can help you flawlessly transition as new tools come online in the future. At the end of the day that’s what everyone wants right? No headaches and a shorter list of items for a brokerage to worry about.

If those are not good enough reasons to use an open platform, then how about this: money. Maintenance and support are cheaper on an open platform because it leverages the entire community that makes up the cloud. Development time also decreases. Boeing doesn’t make aircrafts, they assemble them.

What’s an Ecosystem?

This is another term used in the platform realm. An ecosystem is a collection of complimentary applications all working together, sharing data, that make the whole greater than the sum of the parts. Each platform has its own ecosystem that makes up the cloud.

Again, think of your iPhone. You can have all of your applications together so that the device becomes an indispensable business tool. You get to pick à la carte whatever applications you need and don’t have to worry about how they work together. If you find later you don’t like an application, you can delete it and install a different one.

Why a Brokerage Should Care

It’s no secret that the pace of change for real estate technology is accelerating. We know that there are hundreds of companies making technology for residential real estate, which makes for thousands of applications available for use today.

What this means to a brokerage owner is that there’s no way to predict which companies and applications are going to succeed or even to envision what technologies will come into the market in the future.

Having a platform and ecosystem of applications that run on it is the key to agent productivity and retention. If you don’t think that having a complete integrated technology platform and applications to offer your agents is important, talk to a broker that just lost an agent to Compass.

If you choose the right platform, you’re going to get most of the benefits that Upstream promises for your brokerage today and will future-proof your brokerage for what’s to come in the future.

With the inception of the Moxi Works open platform, our sole purpose is set to helping brokerages innovate and future-proof their businesses. We’ve added a lot of tools and services lately, but only those that are the brightest and best in the industry. With that spirit in mind, we want to announce another best-in-class service integrated into the Moxi Cloud open platform: Totomic, which helps guide agent marketing tactics through an in-depth analysis of big data.

“Where most marketing plans fail is when there’s no recommended action. The marketing direction Totomic provides is clear and concise, allowing agents to hit the ground running on their listings. We’re currently rolling out to a couple mutual clients and are excited to have them on our open platform within our Moxi Engage CRM,” said Mike McHenry, VP of Channels & Partnerships.

Totomic uses big data, allowing realtors to identify, reach, and sell to actual buyers in less time, at the best price. Specifically, their Best Buyer report highlights buyer psychographics, customized selling points, staging tips, and ad-buy recommendations. Totomic encourages specific action from their analysis of the data, unlike other sources that analyze but leave it to the agent to decipher what to do with it.

Totomic’s proprietary, patent-pending technology gives brokerages deeper insight into their customers and markets than ever before. Best Buyer drives insight into prospects and properties by fusing data from a wide variety of sources into easy to understand, actionable intelligence that can be used to drive marketing programs, guide development, and secure new business. The data they gather is run through Totomic’s proprietary algorithm that builds a set of audience profiles within the Best Buyer report. Totomic matches property profiles with audiences based on scientific parameters drawn from thousands of fields of data. Sound familiar? It’s not unlike online dating sources that match people based on interests.

Most agent marketing tools only use the most accessible data sources on the market, such as MLS data, which means a lot of agents are using the same data as their competitors are. Totomic gives agents a competitive edge with their unique mix of data.

Stretch advertising dollars further and increase the amount of time spent pursuing additional listings!

Find out more about the Moxi Cloud and how it’s taking the real estate industry by storm by clicking here.

With over 30 integrated vendors and growing fast, Moxi Works is very excited to announce our new addition to the Moxi Cloud: QuantumDigital.

QuantumDigital is renowned in the world of direct mail, digital, and email marketing for real estate. It’s hard to beat solutions that generate revenue, all while having a 24-hour turnaround time for postcards and all print marketing.

The Moxi Cloud open platform is an entire system built specifically for brokerages and agents to make their lives more efficient. This new vendor will be integrated into the Moxi Cloud through our sphere marketing system powered by Moxi Engage CRM.

“QuantumDigital has great relationships in the real estate industry and we’re jazzed to be partnered with them. Integrated in the Moxi Cloud, together we bring a seamless print, digital, and email experience to our broker and agent customers. We’re looking forward to innovating with the Quantum Digital team,” said Mike McHenry, VP of Channels and Partnerships.

Jim Damman founded QuantumDigital in the 80’s to provide a simple way for agents to generate leads, while freeing up their time to meet clients face-to-face. He pioneered the concept of targeted direct mail and created a postcard marketing service that was fast and easy. Since then, they have paved the way for real estate marketing.

Agents can utilize their offerings by choosing from hundreds of online marketing services or the classic and effective direct mail solution. Some direct mail postcard marketing options include Just Listed postcards, farming, and buyer follow-up.

With agents in mind, QuantumDigital created easy ordering tools that store agents’ photos, company logo, and other details to save agents time in the ordering and checkout process. Their suite of products and services was truly created to make direct mail simple and fast for real estate agents. After all, they’ve been doing it for over 30 years in the industry!

Learn more about QuantumDigital and their deep roots in real estate below: